Gardeners who tell gardeners in ‘utterly bizarre” guidance to avoid glass greenhouses

Professor Stefan Buczacki, a former chair of Gardener’s Question Time described the advice in an “utterly bizarre” way.

“I find the warnings unusual,” said the 77-year-old author of more than 50 books on gardening and natural history. “They just seem like they were dreamed up out of nowhere.

“Glass is a much better and more efficient material for greenhouses because it heats up much faster than polycarbonate.

“That’s the reason large commercial growers still use greenhouses.”

Likewise, former Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins said: “I prefer a greenhouse. They are more productive and polycarbonate costs a lot less.

“Some greenhouses that are not stable when strong winds blow in can’t be used, so I don’t want to be there on a windy day.

“But to stop using it because they are concerned about safety and litigation, is a bit too big.”

However, the association’s 21st Century Appropriations in New Developments guide singles out “greenhouses glass, cold frames, coats” as dangerous design features.

She warns: Dedicated gardenersand their pets, wildlife, and visitors.

“Safer alternatives are multiple tunnels and/or greenhouses and polycarbonate cold frames.”

It also highlights the dangers of internal fencing between plots or bonfires, which must be avoided to avoid any accidents on the allotments.

Most likely, you will advise all the council bases in the country

Phil Gummersall, president of the association, explained: “We want the allotments to be as secure as possible.

Greenhouses can be a little fragile unless you spend a lot of money and a lot more people on allotments.

“Broken glass is one of the biggest problems you have when visiting sites. 20 years later, I still find glass fragments.

“You only need to root in the soil with bare hands and you can easily suffer cuts.”